The February 10th Seattle Times opinion page My Take letter “Put brakes on First Avenue streetcar for good of downtown” continues the papers abetting opposition to a “Connector” between South Lake Union and First Hill Streetcars. The opinion’s concern, “The “Culture Connector would likely cost $410 million and take seven years to complete” and that during construction, “the digging, the noise, the dust, the congestion, the street closures--could potentially shut down dozens of businesses along the First Avenue and negatively impact the lives of thousands of residents”.
It concludes urging Mayor Harrell: Please stop any and all considerations of the “Culture Connector” streetcar project immediately. Urging he spend the money “cleaning up the streets, restoring public order, and offering help and shelter to the city’s unhoused and drug dependent population”. Yet, between the concerns with the connector construction and the conclusion urging Mayor stop connector are several paragraphs lamenting what’s already been lost.
Apparently not recognizing providing the streetcar connection along 1st Ave would provide South Lake Union and First Hill riders easy access to the entire area. Both routes providing access from 10 stops into downtown, with added ridership benefitting the area, potentially reversing what’s been lost.
However, those potential connector benefits are dwarfed by the fact it can negate the need for a second light rail tunnel. Ending the need to spend $13 billion and10 years disrupting downtown Seattle boring a second tunnel and implementing 5 stations for access. Terminating East Link and West Seattle link at existing CID station would result in Sound Transit finally responding to nearly two years of the area's request for a near CID station.
Terminating Ballard Link at existing Westlake station would eliminate the need to wait for second tunnel. South Lake Union commuters could use the existing South Lake streetcar and connector into downtown. Avoiding the need to wait for the tunnel with far better access at a fraction of the cost and disruption from implementing light rail stations in the area.
Use light rail extensions to get commuters into Seattle, with DSTT for those needing to go beyond existing CID and Westlake stations. End the folly of routing light rail trains from Redmond to Mariner, West Seattle to Everett, and Ballard to Tacoma.
The bottom line is the costs and construction disruption from implementing the connector line pale in comparison with the benefits of it negating the need for a second tunnel. There would have been no second tunnel if 70% of Seattle voters had not approved ST3 in 2016. They deserve better. It’s time the Seattle Times stop abetting attempts to end it.
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